A DARING grandmother with a head for heights is preparing to jump 10,000 ft from a plane for a leading children's charity.

Christina Smith, aged 71, will undertake a parachute jump on Saturday to raise funds for Acorns Children's Hospice, which supports children with life-limiting illnesses.

Mrs Smith, of Martley, has tried her hand at abseiling and gliding and said she is not scared of the prospect of leaping into the sky attached to an instructor.

She said: "I will just close my eyes and do as I'm told. It just appealed to me. I won't try bungee jumping and thought this was the next best thing."

Mrs Smith, who is a widow and has two children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, said she hoped to raise about £400 for the hospice, in Worcester's Bath Road.

She added: "I think how lucky I am to have so many children in the family with nothing wrong with them."

She revealed that her daughters, Susan Potter and Pauline Radford, both of Worcester, thought she was mad.

"They just say: `Oh it's mum doing another of her stupid things,' she said.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Mrs Smith can call her on 01886 888727.